SkillsUSA

championsSPRING 2015

keys to leadership making the most of your abilities overcoming shyness new scholarships and opportunities young people earning respect by serving others

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SkillsUSA champions

SkillsUSA’s Official Magazine BOarD Of DirectOrS 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176-5494 Brent Kindred (Wisconsin) 703-777-8810 Michael de Castro (Air Products) www.skillsusa.org Chris Arvin (Caterpillar University) James King () Magazine Staff/Office Of cOMMunicatiOnS Dave Milliken (Utah) Tom Hall, Director Peggy Torrens (Kansas) Ann Schreiber, Associate Director, Communications Charles Wallace (Maryland) Craig Moore, Manager, Web/Technology Alex Gromada (Association for Career and Technical Tom Kercheval, Manager, Audiovisual Technology/ Education) Communications Jennifer Worth (American Association of Community Jane Short, Program Manager Colleges) Jennifer Polz (SkillsUSA State Directors Association) Office Of the executive DirectOr Scott Stump (National Association of State Directors Tim Lawrence, Executive Director of Career and Technical Education Consortium) Sandra Moore, Administrative Assistant Troy Dally (Lowe’s Companies Inc.) Laurie Hackett (Air Products) aDMiniStratiOn anD finance Russ Hoffbauer (State Farm Insurance Companies) Kim Graham, Director Alicia Smales (Snap-on Inc.) SkillsUSA champions online Keith Ashby, Manager, Educational Resources/ Chris Tesmer (Newell Rubbermaid) National Center Cameron Ferguson (Emeritus/Caterpillar Inc.) Visit the SkillsUSA Champions “e-zine” version Melissa Wilson, Manager, Human Resources at www.skillsusa.org/champions/ to flip through Roxanne Hodge, Customer Service Representative natiOnal StuDent OfficerS/aDviSOrS articles, view videos and extra photos and get HigH ScHool updates. You’ll find archives of past issues, adver- BuSineSS PartnerShiPS anD DevelOPMent Ahmad Shawwal/Timothy McLeod () tiser links, lesson plans for new issues, and more. Kelly Persons, Director Dalton Crump/Elizabeth Crump () Dave Worden, Program Director, SkillsUSA Stephanie Wilburn/Todd Anderson () See even more champions on our frequently Championships Robert Gomez/Joe Valdez () updated website, www.skillsusa.org, as well as: Christen Battaglia, Program Manager, Corporate Antonio Vargas/Laura Velez (Connecticut) and Campaign Development Taylor Mackie/Sheila Fox (Massachusetts) Karen Beatty, Program Manager, Business Partner- Benjamin Miller/Lauren-Anne Sledzinski (Virginia) ships and Development Matthew Carder/Deborah Luellen () Jim Kregiel, Program Manager, SkillsUSA Anastasia Hawkins/Jordan Bedhart (Texas) Championships Summer Diegel/Eric Croft (Montana) Volume 49, No. 3 SkillsUSA Champions (ISSN 1040-4538) is published four eDucatiOn, training anD aSSeSSMentS college/PoStSecondary times per school year — Fall (October/November), Winter Marsha Daves, Director Brooke Johnson/James Carter (North Carolina) (December/January), Spring (February/March) and Summer Heidi Walsh, Program Director, Programs and Grant Quinel Nabors/Joanne Edley (Tennessee) (April/ May) — by SkillsUSA Inc. at 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Management Darlenne Helena/Thomas Thoss (Florida) Leesburg, VA 20176. Periodicals postage paid at Leesburg, VA, Associate Director, Training (Oklahoma) and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2015 by SkillsUSA. Niki Clausen, Shane Morrison/Ryland Stonehocker All rights reserved. Nonmember subscriptions: $15 per year Shelly Coates, Associate Director, Conference Alex Bruin/Michelle Martinez (Arizona) (SkillsUSA members, $1.30 paid with dues or affiliation fees). Management Services Stephanie Bland, Program Specialist POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to SkillsUSA Champions, Ashley Ridgeway, Program Specialist, Conference Attn.: Judy Garrison, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. Management Services The names SkillsUSA, SkillsUSA Championships and SkillsUSA Champions; the SkillsUSA: Champions at Work slogan; and the Marketing, MeMBerShiP anD SaleS Director SkillsUSA logo, emblem and slogan art are all registered trade- Kelly Horton, marks of SkillsUSA Inc. All rights are reserved, and permission Judy Garrison, Senior Manager, Membership Services must be granted by the national headquarters of SkillsUSA Susan Trent, Program Manager, Member Services prior to any use. Patty Duncan, Program Manager, Work Force Ready System and Member Services In keeping with a tradition of respect for the individuality Gayle Silvey, Membership Liaison of our members and our role in workforce development, SkillsUSA strives to ensure inclusive participation in all of our programs, partnerships and employment opportunities. kanSaS city Office • 816-691-3827 Byekwaso Gilbert, Program Manager, Alumni

aDvertiSing rePreSentativeS fOr SkillSuSa chaMPiOnS Constellation Enterprises Inc. 53 Main St./P.O. Box 508, Cherry Valley, NY 13320 607-264-9069

4 SkillsUSA Champions Spring 2015 asktim

Leadership at the Heart Executive Director Tim Lawrence has known SkillsUSA as a student member, instructor, industry partner and state director. Got a question? He can help. & In your opinion, whatQ one word Also in thisA issue, Utah member Deryke Q:best describes SkillsUSA? Terrell, a state medalist in leadership Tim: First and foremost, SkillsUSA is a events, shares his formula for success leadership organization. We were founded through the acronym CHAMP (chal- on the principle that good employees and lenge, heart, attitude, meticulousness and citizens need not only a foundation of purpose). He advises SkillsUSA competi- technical skills, but also the opportunity tors to ask, “Did I come for the medal, to practice leading others. or have I come to compete in order to Interestingly, one of the best ways to prepare myself to be a future champion grow as a leader is to serve. That’s one in my career and my life?” That’s a hard reason we’ve launched the SkillsUSA question, but it gets to the heart of the 50K Challenge. You can be a part of this matter: Why are you involved, what is historic effort to log 50,000 hours of your path, and how clear are your goals? service leading up to our 50th birthday. Sometimes it’s easy to be sidetracked by SkillsUSA offers a variety of other oppor- the excitement of what’s going on today tunities for you to shine through service, instead of focusing on your long-term such as the President’s Volunteer Service path. Remember this quote by Earl Night- Award and our National Week of Service ingale: “Don’t let the fear of the time it each May. We have lots of great resources will take to accomplish something stand online and a place to share stories, too. in the way of your doing it. The time will Visit: www.skillsusa.org and key in the word pass anyway; we might just as well put that “service” in the search bar. passing time to the best possible use.” Service helps you learn how to work Make the most of this moment. Focus with other people, budget your time on a few goals that are important to you. and finances, and manage projects. You Share your SkillsUSA story with others as can also gain skills in speaking, writing, Ahmad and Deryke have done. Use your planning and organizing. But first, you voice and be a leader — in school, in your have to step up — as in the story of community and throughout life. • Ahmad Shawwal, our national high-school president. Although once extremely shy, Got questions about SkillsUSA or other topics? he grew as a leader in his local SkillsUSA Email [email protected] or send a letter to chapter, eventually gaining the confidence the address on the facing page. Put “Ask Tim” to be interviewed on Voice of America. in the subject line or mail address.

Spring 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 5 what’snew

SkillsUSA’s 2015 Serving Up Serious Service

ervice is an integral part of the SkillsUSA experience. It’s not S something members do for bragging rights; it’s simply part of the WorldTeam organization’s DNA. That said, many of you reading these words right now might qualify — based on your own service hours — for an Gets Big Boost award you didn’t know existed: the he Alcoa Foundation recently deliv- reliant and able to think logically is one President’s Volunteer Service Award. ered a $250,000 grant to SkillsUSA’s of the critical drivers of any economy,” It’s a legit presidential honor that recog- TWorldTeam, the largest grant the group explains Greg Bashore, global director nizes volunteers nationwide who are has ever received. Among other benefits, of talent acquisition and workforce answering the call to serve others. The the grant will enable the United States to development for Alcoa. “Together with award is presented based on a record of compete internationally for the first time SkillsUSA, we aim to inspire the next qualifying service hours. in the highly regarded Manufacturing generation of leaders in manufacturing For details on how to submit your Team Challenge at the 2015 WorldSkills and engineering.” information, due April 1, visit: www. Competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Learn more about SkillsUSA’s skillsusa.org/membership-resources/awards/ “A new workforce of problem solvers, WorldTeam at: www.skillsusa.org/ presidents-volunteer-service-award. • innovators and inventors who are self- competitions/worldskills. •

Germany competes in the most recent Manufacturing Team Challenge. In 2015, SkillsUSA’s WorldTeam will join the challenge for the first time, thanks to Alcoa’s generous grant. Photo courtesy of WorldSkills International

6 SkillsUSA Champions Spring 2015 what’snew

REWARDING COMMITMENT TO LEADERSHIP Strengthening SkillsUSA’s STEM SkillsUSA has created a special STEM fund to ight SkillsUSA students commit- ted to developing their leadership help raise awareness that career and technical skillsE will get some help doing just that education is STEM. (STEM refers to curricula edu- from the annual Student Development Leadership Scholarship. The multi- cating students in science, technology, engineer- faceted scholarship was established ing and mathematics). As part of the fund, and in 2007 with financial support from Robert Flint, a former Caterpillar to honor SkillsUSA’s 50th anniversary, Air Prod- executive and a longtime friend and ucts has established a $50,000 STEM scholar- supporter of SkillsUSA. The scholarship comes in two great ship. Up to 50 $1,000 scholarships will be award- flavors, the first being $1,300 for ed through a competitive application process to exciting Activate and Leverage leader- ship training at SkillsUSA’s national SkillsUSA students whose area of study will lead conference in Louisville, Ky., in June. them into a STEM-related field. To apply online, The deadline to apply for this award is April 29. visit: http://bit.ly/STEMScholar. The deadline is The second is an $800 gift to offset March 15. • the costs of attending the powerful Washington Leadership Training Institute in September. The deadline to apply for the WLTI portion of the scholarship is July 22. Only SkillsUSA state directors can ust because something’s free doesn’t submit an application, so if you’re Free software mean it’s something you want ... or interested, contact yours for more Jneed. But if you’re a student or instructor details. You can find your director’s offers invaluable involved in design, digital arts, engineer- contact info at: www.skillsusa.org/about/ ing or any other program that relies on state-directors/. • opportunities Autodesk software, you’ll need and want to take note of this free opportunity. Autodesk is fulfilling its promise to expand access to its professional design software in education by making its industry-leading software free to students, instructors and academic institutions worldwide. And yes, that includes you. According to Autodesk, the goal is to “prepare the next generation workforce A scholarship opportunity can with 21st century skills to meet industry help students attend Activate and demands.” Sounds like a goal right up Leverage leadership training at this SkillsUSA’s alley. Learn more at: year’s national conference. www.autodesk.com/education. •

Spring 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 7 t’s always the quiet ones who surprise you. Nobody who knew Ahmad IShawwal in elementary or middle school would have imagined the shy immigrant would represent his school as a student leader, much less the whole country in an international broadcast. Maybe it’s true that still waters run deep. Shawwal’s story began with his family coming to the United States from Multan, Pakistan, in 2001. His father, a professor of Urdu literature, wanted his children to have the educational opportunities available here. “He experienced many new problems so that he could give me new possibilities,” Shawwal says. The sudden change of environment was hard at first for the 5-year-old. He missed his extended family in Pakistan. He didn’t speak English, and even the colder climate was a shock. Eventually, Shawwal found a way to see this cultural disconnect as a positive. “It’s allowed me to appreciate the significance of always remembering one’s cultural roots and values so I may better build my foundation for the future,” he says. Shyness was another barrier. Social and outgoing in Pakistan, he became more introverted upon arriving in a new country. Shawwal says he “chipped away” at that shyness, slowly made friends and began to feel more comfortable as his family settled into a new home in Virginia. After a couple of years, he was teaching the other students in his English as a second language (ESL) classes. Enrolling at Massaponax High School in Spotsylvania, he was introduced to an organization that would require another leap in confidence. “I learned about SkillsUSA through my robotics class and became interested after hearing of its robotics competitions and opportunities for student leadership,” he says.

Photo: Lloyd Wolf An American Once limited by shyness, this young immigrant Dream learned how to lead a national organization. Now he’s giving voice to education and SkillsUSA on a global scale

“SkillsUSA has completely changed my His focus as an intern was on education. By Craig E. Moore life. It provided me an outlet to expand “I was able to work on 3-D animations and upon my robotics interests while teaching designs to create educational tools that me the importance of ‘soft skills’ like would help educate students in STEM public speaking and teamwork.” [science, technology, engineering and Seeing the importance of these skills for mathematics],” he says. not only himself but also others convinced For a final internship project, his group Shawwal to run for SkillsUSA Virginia’s created an interactive e-book about insect District 11 secretary. “I had a vision that I habitats titled Expedition: Insects. “We could help my community,” he says. published it to the iBook store, where it was featured and ranked No. 10 for text- Honoring their sacrifice books,” he adds. Shawwal soon learned more about In August, Shawwal was contacted by a SkillsUSA’s mission, which compelled radio reporter from Voice of America, who him to get involved in community service asked to interview him about SkillsUSA projects and manage district competitions. for its Urdu division. The interview later “It was at that point that I realized just aired on the “Zindagi (Life) 360” program how vital this organization is,” he explains. on Hum TV, an international channel. Pushing himself “out of the box” again, While he’s been busy this school year he ran for state office, then national. Last representing the organization, Shawwal ON THE WEB summer, Shawwal was elected as the has never forgotten his parents’ sacrifice high-school president for SkillsUSA. He — nor lost his sense of responsibility to h Watch Shawwal’s TV interview credits this success with being genuine share the opportunities he’s been given. on “Zindagi 360” at: http://bit.ly/ AhmadShawwal and articulating what he believes in. “My family gave up their own interests In his “spare time,” he applied for a because they knew their children would h Do you have what it takes to be a summer internship in graphic design at have a better future with a chance of an SkillsUSA national officer? Find out the Smithsonian Institution in Wash- education in America,” he says. “It’s our more and get the forms here: www. skillsusa.org/about/national-officers/ ington. Being awarded this honor was an duty to make sure that we not only help impressive accomplishment in itself, but our country, but do the best we can for h To learn more about the current doubly so in his case: Shawwal is self- society as a whole. national officers, visit: http://bit.ly/ taught in graphic design, and high-school “Taking the initiative is all it takes to meetofficers students are rarely selected. make a large impact.” •

Spring 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 9 Ahmad Shawwal North “All of the To help Shane is part of a Carolina’s SkillsUSA empha- Morri- Dalton members size the son was national officer Crump love the value of on the team of leaders calls Saturdays SkillsUSA, scene as meeting World War II that we spend with Connecticut’s Anto- SkillsUSA Oklahoma that’s fanning veterans at SkillsUSA’s Habitat for Humanity,” nio Vargas presented piloted a training con- out across the Washington Leader- says Brooke Johnson, to the board of an ference for district offi- ship Training Institute another North Carolin- international busi- cers. The two-day event, country to serve “the greatest experi- ian. (Her college friends ness for industrial and aimed at boosting the other SkillsUSA ence of my life so far.” took the photo below, aerospace parts. He students’ confidence in He’s spoken about his second from left, after also enjoys giving back public speaking, also members, their leadership experiences a project.) It provides to the community, pro- covered etiquette and states and to a Tennessee agri- “perspective that the moting efforts like that formal dining (pictured communities. cultural class. Crump world is much bigger of Norwich Technical directly below). Another also helped with his than the college cam- High School’s chapter, benefit? The conference Here are some state association’s 24th pus, and one person’s which serves an annual brought the officers of their field annual fall conference help in a project like holiday dinner to more from six districts closer at a Fayetteville camp building a house makes than 60 senior citizens as a unified team, Mor- reports. (photo, far left). all of the difference.” (photo, third from left). rison reports. •

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10 SkillsUSA Champions Spring 2015 Believing you can A Positive make a better life for yourself makes it happen — an outlook that’s added up to more than this math GaFor Every Problemn major ever dreamed By Ann P. Schreiber

aniela Duron Garcia knows how challenges can become opportuni- Dties. “It was one month into school ... and I’m already here shaking hands with the president,” the Texas native explains. While years of challenges have brought her to this moment, with her first semester ended at Georgetown University, the freshman has not only met President Obama, she’s also earned a 3.9 GPA and had the chance to sit courtside at Wash- ington’s Verizon Center to see the Hoyas’ 83-62 win over St. Francis. The university has a strong mentoring program, and Garcia has been able to network with some heavy-hitters. One of those mentors asked her to help staff Georgetown’s information table for the Photo provided by Daniela Duron Garcia Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Daniela Duron Garcia on the Gala Awards. Following his address to the Georgetown University campus. caucus, Obama shook hands with Garcia WEB RESOURCES and other members of the audience. Garcia became interested in George- h Find out more about SkillsUSA’s training opportunities, including town when she visited the nation’s the Washington Leadership Training capital during SkillsUSA’s Washington Institute at: www.skillsusa.org/events- Leadership Training Institute (WLTI). training/ A criminal justice student at the Judge h An e-learning opportunity for Barefoot Sanders Magnet Center of Public college/postsecondary and high- Service in Dallas, she’d been encouraged school students is available thanks to to join her local SkillsUSA chapter by SkillsUSA partner HP LIFE. Visit: www. skillsusa.org/programs/hp-life/ instructor Severo Perez. It would help Garcia better cope with a tragedy that had occurred in her family, Perez believed.

Spring 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 11 After taking criminal justice classes, she it gets really cold, or fearing that we’re Photo provided by Daniela Duron Garcia realized that career was not for her, but not going to be able to pay rent the next mathematics was. Garcia competed in month.” Her parents stressed the impor- SkillsUSA’s Related Technical Math tance of working hard in school, she adds, competition and twice placed first at the “so that when I grow up and I have my district level. She’s now majoring in math family, I won’t have to go through things and may double major, adding physics, like that.” economics or computer science. It’s a drastic contrast to her humble Not weighed down Garcia with a friend during the president’s speech. beginnings. “My parents were both Through these tough life challenges born and raised in Loreto, Rio Grande, and with the support of her closely knit Garcia is grateful for the opportuni- Zacatecas, Mexico,” she explains. “My family, Garcia has remained positive. She ties she’s had because of Perez and her father dropped out of school in the 10th attributes her upbringing with helping her Georgetown mentors. Without career and grade because he decided he did not like to see that she need not look far to find technical education — and SkillsUSA — school and would rather work to help his someone worse off than she is. she believes her college application may family. My mother, on the other hand, Moving 1,300 miles away to attend have been overlooked. To pay it forward, really loved school and wanted to become Georgetown hasn’t been easy. When she’s seeking a career that will allow her to a doctor. Unfortunately, my grandmother feeling homesick, Garcia reminds herself incorporate math into helping others. became sick, and my mom was only able that her family is the reason she’s able to “SkillsUSA has definitely equipped to finish high school because she had to pursue a higher education. “They always me with the necessary tools to succeed take care of her. told me you can always make something in college,” she explains. “The value “We’ve gone through so many hard- good out of something bad, and you can’t of networking was reinforced through ships, like not having water because we let one situation hold you down because SkillsUSA and has already proved to be live in a trailer and the water freezes when you have so much potential,” she says. beneficial at Georgetown.” •

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Give your students the advantage by introducing the same learning series our John Deere technicians use in their Ɵrst year on the job. John Deere Publishing offers Ɵve comprehensive series of educational curricula covering agribusiness management practices, agricultural machinery operation, and equipment maintenance. Written in simple language instruction with detailed and easy-to- follow illustrations, these books give students clear demonstrations for greater understanding and retention. Our textbooks will help students to think and analyze, enabling them to become better technicians or machine operators of large and small equipment. For more information visit us at www.JohnDeere.com/publications. M ‘SURVEYING, SERVING AND DREAMING’ Escobar started gaining the experi nations.” own their as growing start and poverty escape help them will that nations World Third other and Salvador El in projects manage to management project study to “And Iwant so, explains. Escobar astart,” apush, just is need they All she says. difference,” a make help them and communities their up help “build people to its engineering pursue to inspired she was ago, years afew Salvador El to avisit After States. United the in born was Escobar parents, daughter of immigrant the and Austin, of Texas at at University Afreshman countries. world’s poorest the in end poverty to who wants woman Together, ayoung help define they Escobar. of Jessica facets afew just are new ground in another field. field. another in ground new led her to breaking which surveying, land included that course engineering an took her sophomore year, Escobar During event. Project Action Community SkillsUSA’s in medal asilver Reeves, Amira her partner with Escobar, earned later project the on Apresentation park. at the now is available Wi-Fi and underway, was project the were, students the how serious realized city the Once she adds. professional,” and persistent seriously, but we were us not taking and students high-school as us were treating they beginning, the “In allocated. funds have and approval gain to officials city worked with then her team, with proposal a developed Escobar manager, project As means,” she says. ‘park’ a what “We revolutionize to wanted park. parkour local their to technology add to Wi-Fi aplan on agreed students so stunts, doing of themselves videos uploading and shooting watching, enjoy enthusiasts These athletes. parkour were of her classmates several class, ing engineer acollege-level taking summer, (Texas) One School. High Duncanville at while change about such bring to ence ties to Central America — these —these America Central to ties family service, community ing, survey engineering, echanical - - -

Photo: Janet Cantore-Watson undeveloped countries. countries. undeveloped making adifference in leader and dream of engineering, become a herto trust passion for says SkillsUSA taught her ideas, Jessica Escobar A small woman with big B y A nn P. S chreiBer Bringing Wi-Fi to a community park; (second photo, left to right) Escobar’s fellow team members Lucinta Lee, Caleb Griffith, Gabriel Barron and Amira Reeves.

Her instructor, Barton Burnette, asked learned the math of surveying and the “When I entered high school, I was the class if anyone was interested in proper use of tools. Since the club’s start the quiet kid in the corner who’d be like, math and the outdoors. Escobar signed two years ago, more high-school students ‘Don’t talk to me.’ And now ... I’m like, up. As part of a state-only Land Survey- have earned national certification. ‘Interview me. I have something to tell ing competition team, she and other you.’ This organization has prepared me SkillsUSA students earned third place. Courage to dream, initiative to act to take on the challenge of a leadership That led to her becoming, at age 16, a Serving is as important to Escobar as role and pursue my passion to excel and certified survey technician — the first surveying. She’s volunteered at her local advance through education. female from her high school to do so and library and food bank. To help students “My dream is to become an engineer- possibly one of the youngest in history. better understand the plight of those less ing project manager to manage projects “I was really astonished by everything fortunate, she organized Homeless for the that will help communities take action to that happened,” says Escobar, adding Night. In the winter, students donated $5, begin the process of escaping poverty,” she that SkillsUSA has made her a person showed up with blankets and slept outside adds. “Although it would take a million who seeks to share her knowledge to help on the school’s tennis courts. lifetimes to accomplish my dream for the others help themselves. “Being in SkillsUSA has shown me that world, SkillsUSA has helped me develop With help from the National Society there are other people like me out there,” the courage to dream now and the initia- of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), she she says. “There are other people who tive to take action once I have the tools in formed a club to help teach other students don’t care if they’re female in engineering. my hands. I would not stand here today the basics of land surveying and to prepare [Students in SkillsUSA] strive to do what with this dream if I had never become a them for contests. From NSPS, Escobar their passion is. SkillsUSA member.” •

Visit the SkillsUSA store during the 2015 NLSC and get everything you need to live, play, and represent SkillsUSA. See the selection of unique and fun merchandise, and find out what’s inside these cool custom boxes. Quantities are limited.

14 SkillsUSA Champions Spring 2015 o far, sports have been my passion. point of view, you must rise above the because they know it is through the trial- I learned to be a leader when failure competition and perform at a level that and-error process that one learns. Sseemed inevitable under the “Friday-night no other competitor can. I have come “A” stands for attitude. Champions always lights,” pushed myself further than I ever to the conclusion, however, that being keep the perspective of a concept I like thought possible in the third period of a a champion is more of a character trait to call “being 1 and 0.” This is often wrestling match, and reaped the benefits rather than just a person’s trophies and applied in football, where it means that a of hard work by representing my school at plaques that sit and collect dust in a case. player focuses all his energy on winning the Blue and Grey Classic football game Being a champion is an inner quality that the present play rather than dwelling as an All-American defensive end. is better expressed through a person’s on the failure or success of the last one. To be a champion from an athlete’s daily actions and performance. When you stumble, it can be easy to give up; a champion attitude, however, is to learn from these mistakes. In SkillsUSA , ‘An inner quality’ whether you win or lose, it is what you do after that will make you a true champion. Next is “M” for meticulous. To have your An athlete shares his playbook best chance at success, you must pay close attention to the little things. SkillsUSA for becoming a true champion students who have taken the time to perfect their skills down to the details are going to be the winners. It is through perfect practice that they avoid creating bad habits that could set them behind the competition. Last, but certainly not least, is “P” for purpose. The purpose that drives you is what ultimately defines you as a champion at heart. It will not be your medals that will fully render you a champion; rather, it is the purpose of your efforts.

The answer is within yourself All students competing in SkillsUSA need

Photo: Lloyd Wolf to ask, “Have I come for just the medal, or have I come to compete in order to prepare myself to be a future champion in “Although sports are I have created an acronym, CHAMP, my career and life?” If the driving purpose to help describe this daily action of being to win is accompanied by the purpose to important, they are not a champion and how SkillsUSA incorpo- learn and gain, students will find success the most important thing rates these traits to create champions in as they enter various careers. the workplace. Asking myself this same question, I have in my life,” says top athlete The “C” stands for challenge. Champions come to the conclusion that, win or lose, know hard work and dedication are the your true success depends on: Deryke Terrell, who’s now basis ingredients for success, and they • Did I challenge myself and work hard? learned what it means will not cheat themselves out of victory • Did I have heart and push through by cutting corners. Students in SkillsUSA adversity? to be a champion in choose to challenge themselves as they • Did I have a good attitude and find my everyday life. The SkillsUSA work hard to compete in various areas of courage to continue? expertise. • Was I meticulous down to the details student from Lehi (Utah) Next is “H” for heart. Heart means to and did I create good habits? have a burning passion that will not allow • And last, did I find a positive purpose High School offers his you to quit. Those who have heart refuse for the pursuit of my goals? formula for success in to let others convince them that their At the end of the competitions at the ambitions and goals are unrealistic, and SkillsUSA Championships, if you can this excerpt from his 2014 will not let hardships keep them from answer positively to those questions, national Public Speaking reaching those goals. SkillsUSA students you will have become a true champion, choose to push themselves through adver- regardless of the medal on your neck, and competition. sity and continue to work toward their even one step closer to finding lasting future goals. They have not feared failure, success in your life. •

Spring 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 15 toolbox

Celebrate a Rich Legacy While Helping It Evolve

t seems like just yesterday SkillsUSA was learning to crawl, saying its first Iword (probably “skills”), wearing its first red blazer. And now, it’s about to turn 50. (No, we’re not crying. There’s just ... something in our collective eye.) Fifty years is great, but more important than getting there are the accomplish- ments made along the way. As a class, split into two groups and head online to: www.skillsusa.org/about/history-brand- resources. There you’ll find a timeline of some of the organization’s biggest accomplishments through the decades. As a group, come to a consensus on the most important milestone for each decade. Next, come together as a full class, compare the lists and discuss any differ- Photo: Lloyd Wolf ences. Finally, talk about what you’d like to see SkillsUSA accomplish in the next 50 years. Where do you see the organization If you would not be forgotten as soon as in 2065? What will it take to get there? Stay connected to www.skillsusa.org for you’re dead, either write something worth more SkillsUSA 50th anniversary plans as reading or do something worth writing. they develop. • — BenjAmin FrAnklin

Find the photo, win a prize No, the picture on the left isn’t abstract art. It’s actually a distorted part of another photo in this issue. Find the original photo and send us the page number where it appears to win a SkillsUSA sport duffel bag (first prize) or travel mug (second prize). To enter, email your answer, name, address and phone number to: [email protected] (include “Photo Contest” in the subject line). Or, send to: SkillsUSA Photo Contest, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. One first- and one second-prize winner will be drawn at random from the correct entries. Entries must be received by March 15. Congratulations to last issue’s winners: Madison Cook of Powhatan, Va., and Sabrina Peltier of Coventry, R.I. •

16 SkillsUSA Champions Spring 2015 spotlight

NO ROPING Sharing a difficult story OR CLOWNING earning that human sex trafficking was taking place around Fort Worth, IN THIS RODEO Texas, students in the video production class at Southwest High School usedL their technical skills to tell the story. tudents at Wilkes Community With input from Traffick911 — a local nonprofit that runs Triumph College (WCC) in Wilkesboro, House, a ranch for victims — students created a video news program to raise N.C.,S participated in a bicycle safety awareness and held a live broadcast for schools in the Fort Worth Indepen- rodeo honoring Seth Teague, a local dent School District. (Students in the broadcast control room are shown below.) child who died in a bike accident. In addition, they filled baskets with personal toiletries and made blankets The event included a children’s safety for each girl at Triumph course on bicycle riding, lessons on House. Southwest High the importance of wearing a helmet, students also did presen- maintenance inspections and repairs, tations for Delta Gems, and a raffle for 14 bikes. Several hundred an organization serving

bicycle helmets were also given away. Photo: Michael Zukerman, pre-teen and teenage WCC helped assemble the bikes that girls in Tarrant County. were raffled.• These girls then shared the information in their Southwest High School. Used with permission. schools and churches. • Used with permission. Here comes the bride,

Photo: Jamie Reavis. Wilkes Community College. all dressed in … toilet paper? Cosmetology students at Calhoun County

Career Technical Center in Jacksonville, Ala.,

participated in a team-building exercise

involving designing and constructing

wedding dresses from toilet paper — a total Assembling bikes for a safety rodeo of six rolls of the ignoble tissue. Teams of four Students’ pledge: Avoid the ‘R word’

Photo: Sherry Laster, Calhoun County Career Technology SkillsUSA students at WEMOCO or five created six dresses, and in the process Center. Used with permission. Career and Technical Education Center in Spencerport, N.Y., have visited they identified their personal strengths and weaknesses, such as who’s a good classrooms to give presentations on the importance of avoiding the use of the “R” listener or who’s good at execution of ideas. Based on the theme “Halloween word: retard(ed). Staff and other students Bride,” the winning entry (above) is worn by Tia’nna Lauderdale. Her team were asked to pledge and sign cards showing their commitment to not use the includes (left to right) Shaina Hicks, Kelsy Johnson and Kirsten Arenth. • derogatory term. •

Spring 2015 SkillsUSA Champions 17 image

killsUSA Champions features our members’ photography. We’re looking for images of SkillsUSA chapters in action, or ones that show individual members’ concentration or perseverance. For details, email [email protected] (put “Image Photo” in the subject Sheader) or write SkillsUSA Champions, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. The photographer’s chapter is awarded $150. •

“A photographer is taught to pay attention to detail, to step away from a scene to catch the bigger picture and how beauty is found in unexpected places,” writes Madison Hines, a student at Bryan (Texas) High School. Her photography instructor, John Burrows, taught her to do just that. Photo: Madison Hines

SkillsUSA saved me from giving up hope Since I’ve been in SkillsUSA, I’ve really felt like I’m and made me realize a part of something very important. I see how big that I can and will this organization is and how much it is improving become someone so many people’s lives. It has given me leadership great in this life. qualities that I didn’t know I had in myself. Daniela Duron Garcia of Dallas, a student at State officer Emily Stephenson, Georgetown, Ind. Georgetown University

18 SkillsUSA Champions Spring 2015 WITH 50 SOLID YEARS BEHIND US, SUPPORT OUR AMBITIOUS STEPS FORWARD.

urchase your own custom-engraved P paver for the walkway of SkillsUSA’s National Leadership Center. Commemorate your SkillsUSA experience or honor a cherished mentor and become part of SkillsUSA forever. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary of empowering our members to become world-class workers, leaders SkillsUSA’s National Leadership Center and responsible American citizens, here’s your chance to help us build for the future, brick by brick. is located in Leesburg, Virginia, approximately 50 miles northwest of our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Choose the brick-pricing category that best showcases e building houses the SkillsUSA sta and historical your commitment to SkillsUSA: displays. Along with welcoming inuential visitors such Corporations / State Associations $500 as industry executives, manufacturers and VIPs from Individual Adult $100 Individual Student $50 education and government, it has meeting space for student, teacher and business conferences. To purchase your paver and to learn more about this perpetual campaign, please visit: www.skillsusa.org/store/pavers

Paver Campaign Partner For more information, please contact Christen Battaglia at [email protected] or call 703-737-0627. Ue

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